Method and an apparatus for automatically adding cycles with varying ratings

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to an apparatus for the automatic addition of machine cycles in a sequence, wherein different machine cycles in the sequence have different ratings. The apparatus comprises a machine cycle transmitter and first pulse generator, which is coupled to the machine cycle transmitter and responsive thereto. A first counter is coupled to the first pulse generator, the counter having a plurality of outputs, each output corresponding to a number in the count cycle of the counter. A rating circuit is coupled to at least two of the outputs of the counter, the rating circuit producing a plurality of outputs, each corresponding to one of the different ratings. The one of the plurality of outputs which is produced, is a function of the count in the first counter. A second pulse generator having a first input is coupled to the rating circuit, the second pulse generator producing a pulse output having a frequency corresponding to the output of the rating circuit. A second counter for counting the pulses in the output of the second pulse generator is coupled thereto.

United States Patent Leibrecht et al.

[ 1 Oct. 7, 1975 METHOD AND AN APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY ADDING CYCLESWITH VARYING RATINGS [751 Inventors: Klaus Leibrecht, Hofheim, Taunus;

Helmut J ahn, Frankfurt/Main- Hausen, Germany [73] Assignee: KalleAktiengesellschaft, Germany [22] Filed: Oct. 11, 1973 [21] Appl. No.:405,541

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Oct. 16, 1972 Germany 2250632[52] US. Cl. 235/92 PD; 235/92 SB; 235/92 CC; 235/92 DM; 235/92 R [51]Int. Cl. G06B 27/06 [58] Field of Search 235/92 DM, 92 SB, 92 CT, 235/92CV, 92 CC, 92 CN, 92 PD; 355/14 Primary E.\'aminw'.loseph M. Thesz, Jr.Attorney, Agent, or Firm-LeBlanc & Shur 57 ABSTRACT This inventionrelates to an apparatus for the automatic addition of machine cycles ina sequence, wherein different machine cycles in the sequence havedifferent ratings. The apparatus comprises a machine cycle transmitterand first pulse generator, which is coupled to the machine cycletransmitter and responsive thereto. A first counter is coupled to thefirst pulse generator, the counter having a plurality of outputs, eachoutput corresponding to a number in the count cycle of the counter. Arating circuit is coupled to at least two of the outputs of the counter,the rating circuit producing a plurality of outputs, each correspondingto one of the different ratings. The one of the plurality of outputswhich is produced, is a function of the count in the first counter. Asecond pulse generator having a first input is coupled to the ratingcircuit, the second pulse .generator producing a pulse output having afrequency corresponding to the output of the rating circuit. A secondcounter for counting the pulses in the output of the second pulsegenerator is coupled thereto.

12 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures US. Patent Oct. 7,1975 Sheet 3 of43,911,254

METHOD AND AN APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY ADDING CYCLES WITH VARYINGRATINGS The present invention relates to a method and a device forautomatically adding machine cycles in a sequence of cycles with varyingratings.

Particularly in the field of copying techniques it is common nowadays tograde the price of a copy in steps depending on the number of copies.The first and simplest possibility is to produce a price grading inwhich a copy costs, for example, 0.15 DM for a number of copies upto5,000 copies per month, and say 0.12 DM for a number of copies up tol5,000 per month and so forth.

Another grading system aimed at achieving a higher copying rate consistsof, for example, the first and second copy in the case of multiplecopies being the standard price, the third to sixth being half theprice, and the seventh and all subsequent copies a quarter of thestandard price. To achieve this aim it has been proposed, for example inGerman Auslegeschrift No.

1,276,053 that two counters should be used, one of which counts a firstpredetermined number and the second of which counts a likewisepredetermined number of copies following this. In this way threecounters, for example, could indicate the following quantities:

l. the total number of copies,

2. the number of copies which in the case of multiple copies wereproduced as, for example, the first to fifth copies,

3. the number of copies which were produced as the sixth to fiftiethcopies.

From these three numbers the charges could be calculated at differentprices to the customer.

The above method of calculation, however, has the disadvantage that arelatively complicated sum is still required, namely the reading for thenumber of copies has to be multiplied by the respective price and thenumbers thus obtained have to be added. This process slows down thecalculation and there is a danger that errors will be made.

Another defect of the above described system of counting is that it isnot very readily altered. In particular, it is expensive to change fromfor example two to three, four or five price groups and such a changemeans incorporating further counters.

The present invention provides a method for the automatic addition ofmachine cycles in a sequence of cycles with different ratings, whereineach cycle is in the sequence of machine cycles is converted into asequence of meter cycles the number of meter cycles per machine cyclebeing dependent on the rating of the individual machine cycle, and themeter cycles are added.

The present invention thus makes it possible to count machine cycleswith varying ratings with substantially eliminating the above-mentioneddefects. The device of the invention is reliable in operation and simplein construction, and can readily be adapted for any number and anydifferent combination of calculations.

The method of the invention has the considerable advantage that insteadof obtaining three, four or even more separate numbers as was previouslythe case, a single number is produced in which the varying rating of theindividual machine cycle in the sequence has already been taken intoaccount. The differential rating has-thus already taken place beforecounting so that the meter cycles simply have to be added and a singlecounter is sufficient. 1

The conversion of each cycle of the sequence of machine cycles into asequence of meter cycles corresponding to the rating can be achievedmechanically. However, in accordance with the invention an electricalcircuit is preferred since this is simpler, less liable to breakdownsand easier to interchange.

Thus in the caseof the preferred method in accordance with the inventionthe sequence of machine cycles is converted into a sequence ofelectrical pulses of identical form, the pulses of the pulse sequenceare fed to the input of an electrical circuit unit which divides thepulses into a number of meter pulses corresponding tothe rating, and themeter pulses are counted at the output of the electronic circuit unit bya counter. Preferably the number indicated by the counter gives the costfor using the machine. Then no further calculation is needed and theonly source of error is a false reading by the single counter.

The different rating can be achieved by the circuit unit in a simplemanner. For example, in one embodiment of the invention each electricalpulse is transformed by the circuit unit according to the rating intoone or more further pulses, the or each further pulse having asubstantially equal duration to the further pulses produced by the otherelectrical pulses but having a voltage corresponding to the rating, andthese further pulses are then fed to an electrical circuit within theelectronic circuit unit which produces a number of meter pulsesproportional to the voltage. In a further embodiment, each electricalpulse is converted by the electronic circuit unit into one or morefurther pulses, the or each further pulse having a height substantiallyequal to the height of the pulses produced by the other electricalpulses but, corresponding to the rating, having a length dependent onthe position of the pulse in the sequence, and these further pulses arefed to an electrical circuit within the electronic circuit unit whichconverts each further pulse into a group of meter pulses, the number ofthe meter pulses being proportional to the duration of the furtherpulse. In a still further embodiment, for each machine cycle in thesequence a. electrical meter pulses are generated,

b. the electrical meter pulses are added as meter cycles, I

0. these meter pulses are simultaneously added separately as controlcycles, and

d. when a number of pulses corresponding to the rating of the machinecycle has been reached, further addition of the meter cycles is stopped.

The invention also relates to apparatus for carrying out the method inaccordance with the invention. This apparatuscomprises a pulse generatorcontrolled by the machine cycle, the output from which is connected toan electronic circuit unit which divides the pulses into a number ofmeter pulses corresponding to the rating, and a counter which isconnected to the output of the electronic circuit unit and adds themeter pulses and indicates a value corresponding to this total.

The invention will now be described, by way of example only, withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows, diagrammatically, a circuit suitable for carrying out themethod of the invention;

FIG. 2 shows a variant of the circuit shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 shows another circuit which may be used in accordance with theinvention;

FIG. 4 shows a circuit using digital price differentiation.

In the following description the invention will be described in relationto a device for a copying machine. Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1shows, diagrammatically, a counter for carrying out the method inaccordance with the invention. Copies of an original are produced inacopying machine 1. The number of copies of the original which is desiredis preselected with a selection unit 2. A machine cycle indicator 3advances an instantaneous counter 4 by one step for each copy until thenumber of copies measured by the counter ,4 corresponds to the numberpreset on unit 2. These devices are very well known in the art and donot need to be described in more detail.

In accordance with the invention a special device is provided tocalculate the cost of using the copying machine. The machine cycleindicator 3 generates electrical pulses 5 of identical shape which afterstandardization in the instanteneous counter 4 to give standardizedpulses 50 are fed to the input 6 of an electronic circuit unit generallyindicated by the reference numeral 7. This electronic circuit convertsthe standardized machine cycle pulses 50 into meter pulses 8 dependingon a rating will be explained in more detail below these meter pulsesthen being counted at the output 9 of the circuit unit 7 by a pricecounter 10, added and then indicated. Each machine cycle pulse 5 isconverted into a number of meter pulses 8 which depends on therespective position of the cycle pulse in the se quence of machine cyclepulses.

For each copy of the original, the instantaneous counter 4 feeds a pulse50 to the circuit unit 7. The meter pulse 50 passes through a rectifier11 to a counter circuit 12. This counter circuit 12 has, for example, 50outputs and is so arranged that the first meter pulse 50 is supplied tothe first output 121 of the counter circuit 12, the second pulse 50 issupplied to the second output 122 of the counter circuit 12 and soforth. The 50th pulse 50 is supplied to the 50th output 1250 of thecounter circuit 12. The 51st and all subsequent pulses are likewisesupplied to the 50th output 1250 of the counter circuit 12. From the50th copy onwards. the price is thus not graded any further.

The first meter pulse 50, which arrives at the first output 121 of thecircuit 12, reverses the flip-flop switch 131 and brings the feedvoltage to the output and thus through a diode 151 to a slide resistor141. The output voltage of the flip-flop switch 131 is divided betweenthe slide resistor 141 and the resistor 140 and. according to thesetting of the slide resistor 141, a vo|tage corresponding to the ratingfor the first and second copies if fed to the input of afrequency-stablized multivibrator 17. Simultaneously a first indicatorlamp 161 is illuminated to indicate the price stage 1.

At the output 9 the generator 17 produces meter pulses 8 with afrequency corresponding to the input voltage. The pulse 50 is fedthrough a diode 18 to a control input 171 of the generator 17 so thatthe latter only produces the meter pulses for the duration of themachine pulse 50. In this way the machine pulse 50 is converted into agroup of meter pulses 8, the number of which corresponds to the settingof the slide resistor 141. This setting depends on the rating, which isthe same for the first two machine pulses 50. The meter pulses 8 arecounted and indicated by the price counter 10.

The second machine pulse 50 arrives at the second output 122 of thecounter 12. This output is free so that the generator 17 is also freedby the second pulse arriving at the control input 171 through the diode18 and, as in the case of the first pulse, converts the'voltage into agroup of meter pulses corresponding to the setting of the slide resistor141. Thus, in the case of the first pulse 50 and the second pulse 50 thegenerator 17 produces a group of meter pulses with the same number ofpulses 8.

The third pulse 50 arrives at the output 123 of the counter 12. Let usassume that in this example the third to the fifth copies are to costless than the first and second copies. The third output 123 is thereforeconnected to the input of another flip-flop switch 132. The third pulse50 causes the flip-flop switch 132 to reverse and thus applies the feedvoltage through a diode 152 to a slide resistor 142 and an indicatorlamp 162 for indicating the second price grade. The output of theflipflop switch 132 is also connected to the second input of the firstflip-flop switch 131 and the third pulse 50 causes the first flip-flopswitch 131 to revert to its initial position. Diodes 20, 201, 202, 203and 204 prevent the counter and the other flipflop from reverting.

Thus, for the third pulse, the voltage produced on the basis of thesetting of the slide resistor 142 is applied to the input of thefrequency-stabilized multivibrator 17. The setting of the secondresistor 142 and consequently the input voltage of the generator 17 bothdiffer from those for the slide resistor 141 according to the differingrating of the copies 1 and 2 compared with copies 3 to 5. The resistor142 is set in such a way that a lower voltage than before is applied tothe input of the generator 17, and thus the frequency of the meterpulses 8 at the output of the multivibrator 17 is also smaller. Theduration of release of the multivibrator due to the pulse 50 arriving atthe generator 17 through the diode 18, however, remains the same sincethe pulse 50 itself remains unaltered. The third pulse 50 thus producesa correspondingly smaller number 'of meter pulses 8 at the output of thegenerator 17.

The fourth pulse 50 arrives at the fourth output of the counter 12, andthe fifth at the fifth. These outputs are freeso that the processdescribed above is repeated and for each pulse 50 a sequence of meterpulses 8 corresponding to the setting of the resistor 142 is passed tothe price counter 10.

The sixth pulse 50 arrives at the sixth output 126 of the counter 12.The cheapest tariff is to be applied from the sixth copy onwards. Thesixth output 126 is therefore connected with the input of a thirdflip-flop 133. Under the influence of the sixth pulse this flip-flopreverses, causes the second flip-flop 132 to revert to its initialposition, and applies the feed voltage through the diode 153 to theslide resistor 143. Simultaneously an indicator lamp 163 is switched onto indicate the price grade 3. The slide resistor 143 is set to such avalue that a still lower voltage is applied to the input of thegenerator 17 than in the case of the pulses three to five. Consequentlythe sixth pulse is converted by the generator 17 into a sequence ofmeter pulses 8, the number of meter pulses in this case being stilllower than for the preceding machine pulses.

The 7th to 50th machine pulses are fed to the seventh to fiftiethoutputs of the counter 12. In the example depicted in FIG. 1 there is nofurther price grading from the sixth copy onwards so that all theseoutputs 7 to 50 are open and for these copies the number of meter pulsesdetermined by a setting of the slide resistor 143 is produced at theoutput 9 of the generator 17.

The counter 12 is so designed that from the fifty-first machine pulse 5it is switched off. Thus the counter 12 does not cover the total numberof pulses 5 in the sequence of pulses, but only those within a range towhich a differentiated rating can be applied. Thus it would be possible,for example, for a fourth flip-flop (not shown) to be connected to thefiftieth output of the switch 12 so that the fiftieth and all subsequentcopies could be given a different, even lower price rating.

The electrical construction of counters, flip-flop switches andfrequency-stabilized multivibrators is widely known. There is thereforeno need to give a more detailed description of the electrical circuitryof these individual components.

When the start button 19 is pressed, the flip-flops 131 to 133 areimmediately returned to their initial positions by the diodes 20, 201,and 202, the same being done for the counter 12 by the diode 203 and thecounter by the diode 204. Thus the last slide resistor 143 is free untilthe sixth copy is produced in the copying machine 1 and the flip-flop133 reverses again.

Another example of a circuit suitable for carrying out the method inaccordance with the invention is shown in FIG. 2. As in the case of thecircuit described above with reference to FIG. 1, in the circuit of FIG.2 machine pulses 50 arrive from an instantaneous counter 4 at a counter12 which switches to various outputs 121, 122 etc. These outputs areconnected together into groups by the diodes 31,32 350, each group beingassigned a different rating. The mode of operation of this circuitarrangement is as follows:

The first and second pulses 50 allow the first and second outputs 121and 122 respectively of the counter 12 to be selected. Consequently thefeed voltage of the counter 12 is applied in succession to the outputs121,122. These two outputs are connected together through diodes 31,32and joined to the first resistor 141. Thus the feed voltage of thecounter 12 is shared between the voltage divider of the slide resistor141 and the fixed resistor 140. For the duration of each of the firstand second pulses a voltage corresponding to the setting of the slideresistor 141 is therefore applied to the input of the generator 17. Thethird, fourth and fifth machine pulses 50 energize in succession thethird, fourth and fifth outputs of the counter 12, which are likewiseconnected together. This time this voltage is shared by the voltagedivider between the resistors 142,140. As a result a different voltage,the magnitude of which is determined by the magnitude of the resistanceof the resistor 142, is applied to the generator 17. The standardizedpulse 50 is thus converted into a different number of meter pulses 8depending on whether it is the first and second or the third to fifthpulse 50 of a sequence. Finally the 6th to 50th pulses 50 are convertedinto a number of meter pulses 8 determined by the magnitude of theresistance of the resistor 143.

As in the case of the circuit of FIG. 1, the generator 17 in the circuitshown in FIG. 2 is only released for the duration of the pulse 50, thelatter being fed through a diode 18 to the control input of thegenerator 17. In-

stead of this-separate control of the generator it is possible to passthe pulse 50 itself through the voltage divider 141,142,143,140. Thiscan be done, for example, by means of AND-gates with 2 inputs, one inputof each being connectedto the counter 4 and the second to one group ofthe outputs of the counter 12 combined together through the diodes. Inthis case the output of each AND-gate would be connected with arespective resistor 141,142,143. If this is done, the pulse 50 is passedthrough different resistors under the regulation of thecounter 12. Thegenerator 17'must then be so designed that when the voltage is 0 it doesnot supply any output signals 8.

The apparatus in accordance with the invention can also be used inanadvantageous manner to make a further differentiation. In copyingmachines it is frequently the practice to adapt the size of the copy tothe size of the original. Thus copies of a different size may beproduced by preselection or according to automatic scanning of theoriginal. To achieve a price differentiation under these circumstancesdespite using only a single counter, in accordance with the inventionthe number of meter pulses per machine cycle can be made dependent notonly on the different rating for the sequential number of the copy inquestion, but also on its size. This can be achieved in various ways.

One possibility is to switch the frequency-stabilizable multivibrator ormultivibrators over to a different characteristic. In this way it ispossible to arrange that for an input signal of, for example, 3 volts,220 meter pulses 8 are generated instead of 200 meter pulses 8 asheretofore. This change-over could be actuated if, for example, a copywith B4 format is to be obtained instead of one with a A4 format.

Another possibility for adapting the number of meter pulses to the sizeof copy is to leave the generator 17 unaltered but to vary the resistoraccording to the differing size of copies. As a result the magnitude ofthe input voltage and consequently the number of meter pulses 8 perincoming machine pulse 50 is altered. This possibility for altering theresistor 140 is indicated in FIG. 2, where the resistor 140 is shown asa slide resistor.

Finally, it is also possible to achieve the differentiation according tothe size of copy by making the pulse 50 of longer or shorter durationdepending on whether copies are larger or smaller. The frequencyinterval of the pulse 50 is obviously determined by the machine cycle.However, the time duration of a pulse 50 can be altered, for examplefrom 10 milliseconds to 8 or 12 milliseconds. This alters the length oftime for which the generator 17 is released and thus the number of meterpulses 8 per machine pulse 50. The longest time duration for a pulsemust naturally be smaller than the timeinterval between two machinecycles.

Furthermore in the case of the circuit shown in FIG. 1 it is possible,and as a simplification to be preferred, to omit the instantaneouscounter 4 and to replace it by a diode connection direct with theoutputs of the counter 12. This save having a digital counting unit. Thetwo control functions of the outputs of the counter 12 do not interferewith one another. Instead of the counter 4 all that would be requiredwould be a simple standardizing circuit which converts the machine cyclepulse 5 into a pulse 50 of a standard time duration.

Another embodiment of the counter in accordance with the invention isdepicted in FIG. 3. In this case the pulse 50 is not split up accordingto different voltages at the input to the pulse generator 17, butaccording to different pulse lengths for the same voltage. Once again,the time duration for the longest pulse must be shorter than theinterval between two pulses 5.

As in the case of the circuit shown in FIG. 2, the first two pulses 50introduced into the circuit unit 7 of FIG. 3 arrive at the outputs 121,122 of the counter 12, these outputs being combined together throughdiodes 31 and 32. These two outputs are joined to the input of amonostable multivibrator 181. This multivibrator 181 converts the pulse50 into a pulse 501, the duration of which corresponds to the rating forthe first and second copies.

The third pulse 50 of the series passes through the third output 123 tothe input of a second monostable multivibrator 182. This converts thepulse 50 into a pulse 502, the duration of which is constant but differsfrom that of the pulse 501 according to the rating. Thus for the normalgrading system, the pulse 502 is shorter by the percentage by which thethird to fifth copies are cheaper than the first and second.

Since the outputs 123 to 125 are connected through diodes, the fourthand fifth pulses 50 are converted into pulses 502 of identical length tothat from the third pulse 50.

The sixth and all successive pulses 50 pass in a similar manner throughthe outputs of the counter 12 and diodes to the input of a thirdmonostable multivibrator 183 which converts these pulses 50 into stillshorter pulses 503 according to the desired reduction in price.

The outputs of the multivibrators 181, 182, 183 are connected throughdiodes with the input of a pulse generator 17. The latter converts thepulses 501, 502, 503 into a number of meter pulses 8 proportional to thetime duration of these pulses, these meter pulses 8 then being added inthe counter 10.

The output of each of the monostable multivibrators 181, 182, or 183respectively is also connected with the first input of a bistableflip-flop 191, I92, or 193 respectively. The first pulse of therespective multivibrator causes the flip-flop to reverse so that thefeed voltage is applied to its output and causes the corresponding lamp161, 162 or 163 to light up.

The output of the second and third multivibrators 182 and 183respectively is connected with the second input of the first or secondflip-flop 191 or 192 respectively. Thus in the case of the first pulse502 the flipflop 191 is made to revert to its initial position, and inthe case of the first pulse 503 the flip-flop 192 is caused to revert.Thus the lamp once again always indicates the correct price grade at anygiven moment. The return inputs of all three flip-flops 191, 192, 193are connected by diodes 202, 201, respectively with the return switch19. This ensures that for each new copying series the indicationscoincide with the rating.

In the case of the circuit depicted in FIG. 3 the length of the pulses501,502,503 which are generated can also be varied. This gives thecounter system great flexibility.

Another embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 4. Here thedivision is achieved not with analogue components which regulate thefrequency or cycle time of the generator 17, but by on-line control by afurther counter 300 which, when a prescribed number of meter pulses Sandtherefore a given price is reached, does not allow any further pulses 8to pass to the price counter 10 for the duration of the individual cycle50. This design has the advantage of eliminating as far as possiblecomponents such as resistance dividers or RC- elements which necessitategreater accuracy of manufacture or of balancing in circuits of thiskind.

The left hand side of the circuit shown in FIG. 4 is identical to thatof the circuit of FIG. 1 and will not be described in detail. For thefirst price grade, the output signal of the flip-flop 131 is passed toan AND-gate 305. As long as no further signal is produced by thepreselected output 304 of the counter 300 an OR- NOT-gate 309 is notactivated by any of its inputs, its output is l and therefore anAND-gate 310 transmits the pulses of the generator 17 which through adiode 31 l activate the price counter 10 and through a further diode 312the control counter 300.

When the number of pulses preset by selection of the output 304 has beenreached, for example 50 cost units of pulses 8, the counter 300 passes asignal to the corresponding output 304. The AND-gate 305 activates theOR-NOT-gate 309. As a result the AND-gate is closed and further meterpulses 8 are suppressed.

At the start of the next copy the rising edge of the next pulse 50causes a monoflop 308 (monostable flipflop) with a short output pulse toreturn the counter 300 to its initial position. The process describedabove is then repeated. In the case of the third cycle 50 as explainedwith reference to FIG. 1 the flip-flop 132 is actuated and the flip-flop131 returned to its initial position. The pulses produced by thegenerator 17 pass through the AND-gate 310 as long as the OR- NOT-gate309 has 1 at its output and on to the counter 10 and control counter300. After the desired number of pulses 80 corresponding to the secondprice grade the information is passed through the output 303 to theother input of the AND-gate 306. Because of the consequent state 1 atthe output of the AND-gate 306 the output of the OR-NOT-gate 309 isswitched from 1 to 0. As a result the AND-gate 310 is closed and nofurther pulses 80 are passed to the counter 10 and 300. The number ofpulses 80 arriving at the counter 10 thus corresponds to the position ofthe output 303 of the counter 300; thus if in the case of the secondprice grade 30 cost units are to be calculated instead of 50, thethirtieth output of the counter 300 is connected as output 303 with theAND-gate 306 of the second price grade. The counter 300 is returned toits initial position by the leading edge of the next pulse 50 in the waydescribed above.

The same procedure is repeated for the third price grade by activatingan AND-gate 307 through the output 302 of the counter 300 to achieve astill cheaper price per copy.

The special advantage of the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 is the digitaldifferentiation of the price grades by the counter 300. As a result ofthis the frequency of the generator 17 is not critical provided thatduring the time of the machine cycle at least as many pulses 80 aregenerated as are necessary for the most expensive price grade. In asimilar way the shape of the pulse 50 is not critical. If a freelyoscillating generator 17 is used, the diode 18 can be omitted, in whichcase the length of the pulse 50 is not critical at all and it even canbe shorter than the duration of the longest group of pulses 8 (mostexpensive copy).

The general technical principles of the example shown in FIG. 4 can bedescribed as follows:

A continuous sequence of meter pulses 80 is gener ated. These meterpulses pass both to the price counter 10, which indicates the amount tobe paid, and also to a control counter which, beginning anew with eachnew output of said first pulse generator, wherein the frequency of theoutput of said generator is a function of the magnitude of the voltageapplied to the first input thereof, and wherein the first input theretois coupled machine cycle, counts the meter pulses 80. After the to SaidVoltage dividers at the Common Point between requisite number of meterpulses 80 selected for the respective cycle, the supply of meter pulses80 is stopped. The time at which (that is the number of such pulses 80after which) the cut-off is to occur, is determined by the selection ofthe output of the control counter, but which output is used isdetermined by the counter switch 12 so that as a rule with rising outputnumber (first, third, seventh output) the counter switch activates thecontrol counter outputs with falling number (50th, 30th, th output) tosplit up the pulse sequence. I

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that many modificationsmay be made within the scope of the present invention without departingfrom the spirit thereof, and the invention includes all suchmodifications.

What is claimed is: 1. An apparatus for the automatic addition ofmachine cycles in a sequence, wherein different machine cycles in saidsequence have different ratings, said apparatus comprising:

a. a machine cycle transmitter; b. first pulse generator means coupledto said machine cycle transmitter and responsive thereto; c. firstcounter means coupled to said first pulse generator means, said countermeans having a plurality of outputs, each output corresponding to anumber in the count cycle of said counter; d. rating circuit meanscoupled to at least two of the outputs of said counter means, saidrating circuit means producing a plurality of outputs, each outputcorresponding to one of said different ratings wherein the one of saidplurality of outputs which is produced is a function of the count insaid first counter means; second pulse generator means having a firstinput coupled to said rating circuit means said second pulse generatormeans producing a pulse output having a frequency corresponding to theoutput of said rating circuit means; and

second counter means for counting the pulses in the output of saidsecond pulse generator means.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said rating circuit meanscomprises:

a. at least two flip-flop switch means each flip-flop switch means beingcoupled to a predetermined one of said outputs of said first countermeans; and

b. variable resistance means coupled to the output of each of saidflip-flop switch means, the value of each of said variable resistancemeans corresponding to a different one of said ratings, said variableresistance means being coupled to the input of said second pulsegenerator means.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein each said variable resistance meansis a voltage divider wherein one leg thereof is a variable resistor.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the second leg of said voltagedivider is a resistor common to all of said voltage dividers.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said second pulse generatorcomprises a frequency stabilized voltage generator having a second inputconnected to the said first and second legs, whereby the voltage appliedto the first input is proportional to the value of the variableresistance which corresponds to the rating of the machine pulse in thesequence being transmitted by the machine cycle transmitter.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said rating circuit means comprisesat least two variable resistance means each variable resistance meansbeing coupled to predetermined ones of said outputs of said firstcounter means.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein each said variable resistance meansis a voltage divider wherein one leg thereof is a variable resistor.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the second leg of said voltagedivider is a resistor common to all of said voltage dividers.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said second pulse generatorcomprises a frequency stabilized voltage generator having a second inputconnected to the output of said first pulse generator, wherein thefrequency of the output of said generator is a function of the magnitudeof the voltage applied to the first input thereof, and wherein the firstinput thereto is coupled to said voltage dividers at the common pointbetween said first and second legs, whereby the voltage applied to thefirst input is proportional to the value of the variable resistancewhich corresponds to the rating of the machine pulse in the sequencebeing transmitted by the machine cycle transmitter.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said rating circuitmeans comprisesat least two monostable multivibrator means, each coupled topredetermined outputs of said first counter means, wherein the pulsewidth of the output of each of said multivibrator means corresponds to adifferent one of said ratings.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the frequency of the output ofsaid second pulse generator means is a function of the pulse width ofthe voltage applied to the input thereof, and wherein the width of thepulse applied to the first input thereof corresponds to the rating ofthe machine pulse in the sequence being transmitted by the machine cycletransmitter.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said rating circuit meanscomprises:

a. at least two flip-flop circuit means coupled to predetermined outputsof said first counter means;

b. third counter means coupled to the output of said first pulsegenerator means;

c. a plurality of AND gates, the inputs of each AND gate being coupledto one of said flip-flop circuit means and a predetermined output ofsaid third counter means; and v d. an OR-NOT gate, the inputs of saidOR-NOT gate being coupled to said AND gate,

and wherein said second pulse generator means comprises;

e. a pulse generator circuit having an input coupled to said first pulsegenerator means; and

f. AND gate means having one input coupled to the output of said pulsegenerator circuit and another input coupled to the output of said OR-NOTgate, the output of said AND gate being coupled to said second and thirdcounter means.

1. An apparatus for the automatic addition of machine cycles in asequence, wherein different machine cycles in said sequence havedifferent ratings, said apparatus comprising: a. a machine cycletransmitter; b. first pulse generator means coupled to said machinecycle transmitter and responsive thereto; c. first counter means coupledto said first pulse generator means, said counter means having aplurality of outputs, each output corresponding to a number in the countcycle of said counter; d. rating circuit means coupled to at least twoof the outputs of said counter means, said rating circuit meansproducing a plurality of outputs, each output corresponding to one ofsaid different ratings wherein the one of said plurality of outputswhich is produced is a function of the count in said first countermeans; e. second pulse generator means having a first input coupled tosaid rating circuit means said second pulse generator means producing apulse output having a frequency corresponding to the output of saidrating circuit means; and f. second counter means for counting thepulses in the output of said second pulse generator meAns.
 2. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein said rating circuit means comprises: a. atleast two flip-flop switch means each flip-flop switch means beingcoupled to a predetermined one of said outputs of said first countermeans; and b. variable resistance means coupled to the output of each ofsaid flip-flop switch means, the value of each of said variableresistance means corresponding to a different one of said ratings, saidvariable resistance means being coupled to the input of said secondpulse generator means.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein each saidvariable resistance means is a voltage divider wherein one leg thereofis a variable resistor.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the secondleg of said voltage divider is a resistor common to all of said voltagedividers.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said second pulsegenerator comprises a frequency stabilized voltage generator having asecond input connected to the output of said first pulse generator,wherein the frequency of the output of said generator is a function ofthe magnitude of the voltage applied to the first input thereof, andwherein the first input thereto is coupled to said voltage dividers atthe common point between said first and second legs, whereby the voltageapplied to the first input is proportional to the value of the variableresistance which corresponds to the rating of the machine pulse in thesequence being transmitted by the machine cycle transmitter.
 6. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein said rating circuit means comprises atleast two variable resistance means each variable resistance means beingcoupled to predetermined ones of said outputs of said first countermeans.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein each said variableresistance means is a voltage divider wherein one leg thereof is avariable resistor.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the second legof said voltage divider is a resistor common to all of said voltagedividers.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said second pulsegenerator comprises a frequency stabilized voltage generator having asecond input connected to the output of said first pulse generator,wherein the frequency of the output of said generator is a function ofthe magnitude of the voltage applied to the first input thereof, andwherein the first input thereto is coupled to said voltage dividers atthe common point between said first and second legs, whereby the voltageapplied to the first input is proportional to the value of the variableresistance which corresponds to the rating of the machine pulse in thesequence being transmitted by the machine cycle transmitter.
 10. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein said rating circuit means comprises atleast two monostable multivibrator means, each coupled to predeterminedoutputs of said first counter means, wherein the pulse width of theoutput of each of said multivibrator means corresponds to a differentone of said ratings.
 11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein thefrequency of the output of said second pulse generator means is afunction of the pulse width of the voltage applied to the input thereof,and wherein the width of the pulse applied to the first input thereofcorresponds to the rating of the machine pulse in the sequence beingtransmitted by the machine cycle transmitter.
 12. The apparatus of claim1, wherein said rating circuit means comprises: a. at least twoflip-flop circuit means coupled to predetermined outputs of said firstcounter means; b. third counter means coupled to the output of saidfirst pulse generator means; c. a plurality of AND gates, the inputs ofeach AND gate being coupled to one of said flip-flop circuit means and apredetermined output of said third counter means; and d. an OR-NOT gate,the inputs of said OR-NOT gate being coupled to said AND gate, andwherein said second pulse generator means comprises; e. a pulsegenerator circuit having an input coupled to said first pulse generaTormeans; and f. AND gate means having one input coupled to the output ofsaid pulse generator circuit and another input coupled to the output ofsaid OR-NOT gate, the output of said AND gate being coupled to saidsecond and third counter means.